Le Clos Sets New Commonwealth Games Medal Record

Veteran South African swimmer Chad le Clos has made history at the Commonwealth Games, securing his 21st medal late Wednesday. The bronze medal, earned as part of the men's 4x100 medley relay team, officially makes him the most decorated athlete in the Games' history, overtaking Australia's Emma McKeon.

The 34-year-old's record-breaking achievement comes after he won two other medals at the 2026 Games: a silver in the mixed 4x100 medley and a bronze in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay. His impressive medal haul across five Games now stands at seven golds, five silvers, and nine bronzes. Le Clos first competed in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 at the age of 18, where he won five medals.

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It was emotional, but I think those first two medals (in Glasgow 2026) were just a little bit more just because I had to get over the hump and tonight I just had to stay cool and bring it home.

"It was emotional, but I think those first two medals (in Glasgow 2026) were just a little bit more just because I had to get over the hump and tonight I just had to stay cool and bring it home," le Clos said after the relay. He expressed gratitude for his teammates, noting, "The way the boys and girls swam ...they swam their hearts out. They kept saying ‘we’re doing this for Chad’ before they walked down and it just means the world to me."

Le Clos is also an Olympic champion, famously beating Michael Phelps by 0.05 seconds in the 200m butterfly at the 2012 London Games. He won further Olympic medals in Rio in 2016 and has competed in Tokyo and Paris. He has expressed his ambition to qualify for his fifth Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2026.

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The way the boys and girls swam ...they swam their hearts out. They kept saying ‘we’re doing this for Chad’ before they walked down and it just means the world to me.